Harness-controlling mechanism for looms.



PATBNTED APR. 24, 19 P. GASSIDY & A. A. ST. LAURENT.

CONTROLLING- MBCHANISM POR LOOMS.

No. 818,743. PATENTED APR. 24, 1906,

P. GASSIDY da A. A. ST. LAURENT.

HARNESS CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 20. 1905.

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Kirn l' H @ROL/M7 glam/7 No. 818,743. PATBNTBD APR. 24, 1906. P. CASSIDY & A. A. ST. LAURENT. HARNESS CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 20.1905.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

.PATRICK OASSIDY AND AIME A. ST. LAURENT, OF SALEM, MASSACHU- SETTS, ASSIGNORS TO DRAPER COMPANY, OF HOPEDALE, MASSA- OHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

HARNESS-CONTROLLlNG NIECHANISIVl FOR LOOIVIS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

iratented April 24, 1906.

Application filed June 20, 1905. Serial No. 266.109.

To roll whom t may concern:

Be it known that we, PATRICK Cassini' and AIM A. ST. LAURENT, citizens of the United States, and residents of Salem,county of Essex, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Harness-Controlling Mechanism for Looms, of which the following desciption, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to multiple-harness looms-'i. e., wherein more than two harnessframes are used and operated by cams or other equivalent means in such manner that while one harness-frame is up or down a plurality of harness-frames will be down or up, as the case may be, and the invention has more particular reference to a four-harness motion designed for weaving a two-ply fabric, such as is often used in making bags.

In the present embodiment of the invention the construction and arrangement are such that the two plies of cloth are joined at one selvage only, as will appear more fully hereinafter; and the invention has for its particular object the production of a simple and effective and positively-acting compensating connection between and controlling the harness-frames without the use of springs or similar devices.

The harness-frames are connected in pairs by flexible overhead connections, each harness-frame being operatively connected with an actuating-cam. The flexible connections pass upward from the frames over stationary guide-sheaves and thence around sheaves or pulleys mounted on a compensating device of peculiar construction, the movement whereof is positively governed by a separate cam.

In weaving the double fabric hereinbefore referred to the shuttle is first picked through the shed for the upper ply, for instance, and returns through the shed for the lower ply, after which the lower shed is changed and the third pick is made, laying the filling in the lower ply. The shed for the upper ply is then changed and the fourth pick returns the shuttle therethrough to the starting-point, the Vfilling being laid in the two plies thus: upper, lower, lower, upper, so that the plies are joined only at one edge. This requires with the four harness-frames such a harnessmotion that referring to the frames for the four picks is expressed as follows: 1 up, 3 down, 3 up, 1 down, 3 up, 1 down; 1 up, 3 down, and repeat, the harness-frames changing, of course, as will be described hereinafter.

In the arrangement herein illustrated the first and second frames are connected, counting from the front, and the third and fourth frames, and as the order called for by the cams requires the connected pair to be at times in either the upper or the lower shed and at other times to be in different sheds-fi. e., one up and the other down-the compensating device is called into play to effect or make possible such variation in the position of the frames, but without a complicated top motion or overhead connection, and obviating the use of a spring or other variable device for controlling the compensating device.

The novel features of the invention will be fully described in the subjoined specification and particularly pointed out in the following claims.Y

Figure 1 is a front elevation, centrally broken out, of a suflicient portion of a loom to be understood with one embodiment of this invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a left-hand side elevation thereof, the nearer loom side being broken away to show the harness-operating cams and the connections between them and the respective harnessframes. the operating-cams and their relative position. Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view show-' ing the manner in which the filling is laid in the two plies during a cycle of four picks. Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8 are diagrammatic views showing the relative positions of the harnessframes for the four picks of the cycle. Figs. 5, 6, 7 a, and S show substantially the corresponding positions of the compensating device and the connector-sheaves or pulleys when the harness-frames are positioned as shown in Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8, respectively 5 and Fig. 9 is a separate view of the compensating cam.

The arch A of the loom has mounted upon it two sets of guide-sheaves a a', Fig. 1, the set a having only four sheaves in use in the present arrangement, one for each harness- IOO frame, and the set a having five sheaves all in use, the ifth sheave being for a purpose to be described, the harness-frames being indicated in Fig. 2 at H H2, H3, and H4. From the top of each frame lead two strapsor bands h h', the straps h passing up over the sheaves a and across and under the sheaves a and up around them, while the straps h pass up directly to and around the sheaves a', and both straps of each frame are connected with a hooked link hX-that is, considering the two bands h and h of each harness as primary bands, they are connected at their free ends with one end of a link hX, and to the other ends of the links secondary straps or bands are connected, such secondary bands being shown at 1, 2, 3, and 4, Fig. 1, corresponding to the frames H H2, H3, and H4, respectively. Each harness-frame is connected at itslower end by a suitable connection, as h2, Fig. 2, with its corresponding treadle, the four treadles or-harness-levers being indicated at T T2, T3, and T4'in Fig. 2.

vThe treadles are provided with usual rolls, withwhich coperate the several operatingcams C, C2, C3, and C4 (shown separately in Fig. 3) and all mounted on a cam-shaft CX,

Fig. 2, having fast upon it a gear c in mesh with an intermediate pinion c', which meshes in turn withv a pinion c2 on the main drivingshaft' C or pick-shaft. A larger pinion c3 on this shaft meshes with a gear c4, fast on an auxiliary shaft c5, on which is mounted the compensating Vcarri C5, to be referred to, said cam acting upon a treadle T5, as 4'shown in Fig. 2. The cam-shaft C makes one revolution for each four picks in the'present arrangement, and the auxiliary shaft c5 rotates in synchronism therewith or one revolution for eachifour picks, but in the opposite direction.

By reference to Fig. 3 it will be seen that the harness-cams C land C4 have substantially the same contour, and C2 and C3 are similar, the difference in the throw of the cams being provided to give the proper shedopening, inasmuch as. the harness-frames have to be given an increasing throw, as they are farther back-from the front harness-frame, this beingv a well-known expedient Vin* loom construction. For convenience in following out the positions of the several harness-frames throughout the cycle the-lsign is used on the drawings to indicate a raised harnessframe or one in the upper plane `of the shed andthe signtoindicate a lowered frame, or `the lower plane ofthe shed. (See Figs. 1,5, 6, 7, and 8.) y

Referring to Figs. 1 and2, the arch A has at one side, herein shown at the left,l an upright stand A5, provided with a forwardlyextended horizontal stud a5, which forms the xed fulcrum Jfor the compensating device, the latter comprehending a lever a", whose hub a7, Fig. 2 is mounted to rock on the stud 0.5, and a second leverv as, having a hub ab, fulcrumed on a-stud al on the lower end of lever a6. At the 'upper end of lever a a stud a,11 has mounted upon it two connected rolls or sheaves 3X and 4X, the latter being of larger diameter, because a greater throw must be given to the rearmost harness-frame H4 than to the next frame H3 in front, and the secondary straps or bands 3 and 4 are wrapped around sheaves 3X and 4X in opposite directions and iixedly secured thereto. The said secondary bands or connectors thus form a flexible connection between the harness-frames H3 and H4, the connected sheaves constituting a support for the connection and being mounted on one member a,6 of 'the compensating device. The distance fromstud a to the iixed fulcrum a5 is greater than that between said fulcrum and the movable fulcrum al", which pivotally connectsthe main and auxiliary members a and a8 of the compensating device. On the lower end of the member a8 a stud L12 rotatably supports-two connected sheaves 1X and 2X, the former being of lessdiameter than the latter, so vas to give. the greater throw to the harness-frame H2, and the secondary straps or bands 1 and 2 are wrapped around said sheaves in opposite directions and iixedly secured thereto, so that the harness-frames H and Hzare iexibly connected overhead, having the bearing-sheaves mounted on the member as of the compensating device. Said member a8 has its upper and longer lever-arm shaped to form a segment 0.13, over which'passes a strap 5, its adjacent end being secured to the segment and its opposite end to a link h5, the latter being connected in turn with a strap or bandr 5X, which passes over the fifthsheave of the set a and thence downward to the treadle T5, Fig. 2. through the described connection, governs the operation of the compensating device in a manner to be described, but positively, andv by or through such device the connected pair of harness-frames may be in the same plane of the shed or in different lanes, as called for. The harness-frames w ich control the warps for the upper ply of the fabric are herein the frames H and H4, while the frames H2 and H3 operate in a similar manner forl the lower ply, and in the arrangement herein shown and described one harness-frame is up and three down for the first pick, three up and one down for the-second pick, three up andone down for the thirdpick, (but not the same frames,) and one up and three down for the `fourth and last pick of the cycle.

The harness-frame positions of Figs. 1, 2, and 5 agree with H/, or. No.- 1 up and the other three frames down, and the shuttlev is thrown on the first picksay from left to right, viewing the diagram Fig. 4--and at such timev the compensating device, is positioned as shown in Figsol and -5**,the filling The cam C5, acting- IOO IIO

'sisfm being laid in the shed for the upper ply, as U, Fig. 5. The shed is then changed by raising N os. 3 and 4 harness-frames from the lower to the upper plane of the shed, Nos. 1 and 2 remaining as before, and to make such change the compensating device is brought into action, so that Nos. 3 and 4 can be raised. When the cani-shaft C is turned one-quarter ol' a revolution, so as to change the positions of the harness-cams, the cam C5 is also turned one-quarter of a revolution and depresses its treadle, thereby exerting a pull on the flexible connection between it and the lever as. This pull acts through lever aB upon the lever e to rock it on the fixed i'ulcrum ai into substantially the position shown in Fig. 6d, throwing the upper end of lever a to the left to lift Nos. 3 and 4 harness-trames--ie., H3 and H*-as their cams then permit such rise, the lever es practically swinging about the stud a as a center, no change being called for in the positions oi' Nos. 1 and 2 harness-frames. The second or return pick is then made, laying the filling in the lower ply, as at L, Fig. 6, and again the shed is changed, Nos. 1 and 4 harness-iframes remaining raised while No. 3 must be depressed to the lower plane ot' the shed and No. 2 must be raised to the upper plane, as in Fig. 7. In order to permit No. 3 to descend, due to the depressing action ot' cam C:i upon the treadle T3, while No. 4 remains up, the lever a must swing about its fulcrum ai into about the position shown in Fig. 7a, the cam C5 still keeping a pull on the connection between its treadle and the upper end of lever as, and as the connection uw between the compensating levers moves to the left from the position shown in Fig. 6"L the position of the sheaves 1X and 2X is changed, they being moved far enough to the left to compensate for therise oi' No. 2 harness-'iframe from the lower to the upper plane otl the shed.

The harness-frames being positioned as shown in Fig. 7, the third pick is made, laying the filling again in the lower ply, but from lett to right, viewing Fig. 4, and as the four-th pick-the last of the cycle-is laid in the upper ply, from right to leit, the original shed-opening for the iirst pick must be changed prior to such pick to lower No. 1 harness-frame, while No. 4 remains up. At the same time No. 2 i'rame must be depressed to bring the frames into the relative positions shown in Fig. S. The position of the compensating lever a6 is not materially changed from that shown in Fig. 7, as Nos. 3 and 4 do not now change, but as Nos. 1 and 2 were both up they must both be depressed by their respective cams, and to permit this a low part of the cam C5 now cooperates with its treadle, permitting the latter to rise, and as the connection between the treadle andv lever as is thereby let ofi' or slackened said lever swings on (L10 as a fulcrum into the position shown in Fig. 8a. This permits the connected sheaves 1 and 2X to move inward or to the right, viewing Fig. 7, and allows the cams C and C2 to lower the corresponding harnessframes, after which the shuttle is picked, laying the filling in the upper ply, as at U, Fig. S. The cycle is now completed, two picks having been laid in each ol the plies in this sequence, upper, lower, lower, upper, and the next change brings the parts back into the position shown in Figs. 1, 5, 5, with N o. l harness-frame up and the other three down.

From an examination of the diagram Figs. 5 to S, inclusive, it will be obvious that the VFirst and fourth picks of llilling are laid in sheds 'formed by Nos. 1 and 4 harness-iran'ies, but that their positions are reversed in the fourth pick, and that the second and third picks are laid in sheds formed by Nos. 2 and 3 harness-haines, but with their positions reversed for the two picks. Tt will also be manifest that were it not for the compensating device there would be nothing to lilt either harness-frame of a connected pair were its fellow frame down, nor could the two connected frames be raised together, as hereinbelore described. As shown most clearly in Fig. 9, the compensating cam C5 has two high and two low portions, the cani being shown as symmetrical in shape and so timed with rclation to the harness-cams that it exerts a positive pull on the compensating member es at the proper' times and at other times permits said lever to move in the opposite direction. The compensating device is thus positively acting, simple, and effective. By a slight change in the position oi" the harnesscams, setting them all quartering, with C and C opposite each other, and C`- opposite to C3, a tubular fabric may be woven, the harness-frames then being moved in this sequence: l up, 2, 3, and 4 down, 1, 2, and 4 up, 3 down; 4 up, 1, 2, 3 down, 1, 3, and 4 up, 2 down. Then this arrangement is used, the cam C5 must be rotated at twice the speed lor the arrangement illustrated to cooperate properly with the harness-cams, and the two plies will be connected at each edge, forming a tube.

The invention s not restricted to the precise construction and arangement shownand described, as -the same maybe varied or modified in detail by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope ol the invention. i

Having fully described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a loom-harness mechanism, four verticallymovable harness-haines, means, including four llexiblc connectors arranged in pairs, to connect said frames in pairs, and a controlling-cani for and operatively connected with each harness-frame, combined with IIO a compensating device comprising a main lever having a fixed fulcrum, an auxiliary lever pivotally mounted on the main lever below its fulcrum, a pair of coaxial, connected sheaves rotatably mounted on the upper end of the main lever, and a similar pair of sheaves rotatably mounted on the lower end of the auxiliary lever, the two pairs of connectors being o positely Wrapped around and fastened to tIhe pairs of sheaves, respectively, and positively acting controlling means for said compensating device connected with the auxiliary lever above its pivotal connection with the main lever.

2. In a loom-harness mechanism, four vertically movable harness frames, a flexible overhead connection between each pair of said frames, and a controlling-cam for and Aoperatively connected with each harnessframe, combined with a compensating device comprising pivotally connected main and auxiliary members each having a pair of connected, axial sheaves rotatably mounted upon it to support respectively the two overhead connections, and a fixed fulcrum for the main membeiylocated between the sheaves thereon and the point of connection with the auxiliary member, and positively-acting controlling means for said compensating device, operatively connected with the auxiliary member at a point above the fixed fulcrum.

3. In a loom-harness mechanism, four vertically-movable harness-frames flexibly connected in pairs overhead, and a controllingcam for and operatively connected with each frame, combined with a compensating device comprising two pivotally-connected levers, a rotatable double sheave on each lever, each sheave coperating with one of the overhead connections of the pairs of harness-frames, a fixed fulcrum for one of said levers, and positively-acting controlling means for the com- Ypensating device, including a 'cam operatively connected with the other of said levers.

4. In a loom-harness mechanism, four vertically-movable harness-frames flexibly connected in pairs overhead, a controlling-cam and a coperating treadle connected With the bottom of each harness-frame, combined with a compensating device comprising main and auxiliary, pivotally-connected levers, a fixed fulcrum for the main lever, a double sheave on the latter above the fulcrum, cooperating with one of the flexible overhead connections, a similar double sheave on the auxiliary lever below its pivot, and coperat-V ing with the other flexible overhead connection, and a controlling-cam positively connected with the upper end of the auxiliary lever and governing the operation of the compensating device.

5. In a loom-harness mechanism, four vertically-movable harness-frames flexibly connected overhead in pairs, and a controllingcam for and operatively connected with each frame, combined with a compensating device coperating with the overhead flexible connections, said compensating device including two pivotally-connected levers, each connected with the overhead connection of a pair of frames, and positively-acting controlling means connected with one of said levers and governing the operation of the compensating device, whereby the harnessframes of a pair may be simultaneously in the same or in different planes of the shed.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

PATBICK CASSIDY. AIME A. ST. LAURENT. IVitnesses:

PETER J. KIERAN, JOSEPH C. LERESQUE. 

